Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Establishment and Evaluation of a Porcine Vein Graft Disease Model
Published on: July 25, 2022
[Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activity: a new marker for coronary artery bypass graft disease]
Taner Ulus1, Aylin Yıldırır, Leyla Elif Sade
1Department of Cardiology, Medicine Faculty of Başkent University, Ankara, Turkey. tanerulus@hotmail.com
Insights
Elevated serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels are linked to severe graft disease after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). GGT may serve as an independent marker, particularly for saphenous vein graft disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Biomarkers
- Vascular Disease
Background:
- Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity is associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events.
- The role of GGT in graft disease following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between preoperative serum GGT levels and severe graft disease in patients who underwent CABG surgery.
- To determine if GGT is an independent predictor of severe graft disease, considering different graft types.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 113 patients undergoing control coronary angiography post-CABG were analyzed.
- Preoperative serum GGT levels were measured, and graft disease was defined as ≥70% stenosis.
- Statistical analyses, including ROC curve and multivariate analysis, were performed to assess the association between GGT and severe graft disease.
Main Results:
- Severe graft disease was observed in 57.5% of patients.
- Significantly higher serum GGT levels were found in patients with severe graft disease (p=0.001).
- Serum GGT was an independent predictor of severe graft disease, especially for saphenous vein grafts (SVGs).
Conclusions:
- Serum GGT level may serve as an independent marker for predicting severe graft disease in patients after CABG.
- Higher GGT levels are particularly associated with severe disease in SVGs.
Objectives:
Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity has been shown to be related to the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. We evaluated the association between GGT and severe graft disease in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
Study Design:
We evaluated 113 patients (mean age 62±9 years; range 21 to 81 years) who underwent control coronary angiography after a mean of 39 months (range 18 to 84 months) following CABG surgery. A graft was considered patent if there was <70% stenosis or severely diseased if there was ≥70% stenosis on coronary angiography. Preoperative serum GGT levels were measured in all the patients and none had severe systemic or hepatobiliary disease. The association between serum GGT level and severe graft disease was investigated. The grafts were also evaluated separately.
Results:
Coronary angiography showed severe graft disease involving at least one graft in 65 patients (57.5%). Serum GGT level was significantly higher in patients with severe graft disease (p=0.001). ROC curve analysis yielded a cut-off value of 29.5 U/l for serum GGT level to predict severe graft disease (area under the curve: 0.69) with 48% sensitivity and 82% specificity. While GGT levels were similar for internal mammary artery grafts (p>0.05), radial artery grafts and saphenous vein grafts (SVG) with severe graft disease were associated with significantly higher GGT levels (p=0.003 and p<0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, family history of coronary artery disease at a young age (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.08-5.61, p=0.03) and serum GGT (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.07, p=0.05) were independent predictors of severe graft disease. Separate analysis based on the graft types showed that GGT was an independent predictor of severe graft disease for only SVG (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04, p=0.03).
Conclusion:
Serum GGT level may be an independent marker for the development of severe SVG disease in patients undergoing CABG surgery.
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